A federal judge wants to impose changes against a practice used by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Senior U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil says that the practice known as the "Kansas Two-Step" violates motorists' constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and targets motorists traveling from states where marijuana is legal. Vratil notified the patrol in her ruling late last week that she is ready to impose changes in the patrol's policing practices. KHP has used the tactic for years to detain out-of-state motorists on Interstate 70 long enough to find a reason to search their vehicles for illegal drugs. A trooper finishes the initial traffic stop, starts to walk away and then goes back to talk more with the motorist. Vratil says she would like to require troopers to affirmatively inform motorists of their right to refuse to allow searches of their vehicles. The patrol has defended its tactics as a response to I-70 serving as a major corridor for drug traffickers.